Stressed from the holidays? Desire to be “better” in the New Year, with all the energy and confidence you need to live life joyfully? Imagine waking up every morning clearly knowing who you are, what you want, and your Purpose. How different would your life be? Wouldn’t you love to feel more connected and experience more joy and fulfillment?

It ispossible to reconnect for joy and fulfillment.

It’s in your design, complete with a built-in compass to help you. Remember in my last article (Your Vital, Valuable Resource for Handling Holiday Stress Gracefully) I mentioned the Innate Wisdom Centers guiding you? These areas of your body are that “compass”, your most reliable resource for navigating your soul’s journey. When they’re healthy, aligned, working in harmony, and you’re tuned in to them, you have a calmer, more fulfilling and enjoyable life.

What I share here is adapted from my article “Reconnect for Joyful Fulfillment”, originally published in Luminous Wisdom Sophia, January 2018.

Your compass signals you (with gut feelings, tugs at your heart, urges to move, etc.), guiding you to be safe, comfortable, happy, and fulfilled throughout your day. Through conditioning and/or trauma, you may be disconnected from your compass. Thus, you miss its signals.

You can reconnect to your compass, and align your Wisdom Centers.

A great place to begin is with your feet and legs. As your foundational Wisdom Center, they connect you to source energy, ground, so that all of “you” manifests on earth, feeling connected, safe, “at home”. Stressed? Overwhelmed? Grounding helps you feel calm, de-stressed, and secure so you trust, thrive, and create. It enables you to feel what you need to in your body without feeling overwhelmed. Struggling with decisions, uncertainty? Go for a walk to literally clear your head. Walking actually gets the two hemispheres of your brain talking to each other to sort, and make sense of, information.

Well-grounded and balanced people exhibit confidence and self-assurance across a variety of situations. They think clearly, and are present. Grounding and centering are key in helping them handle what life throws their way from a place of feeling safe, secure, and at home in their body. And, others often look to them in times of crisis, when support and/or clear thinking is needed, and when a sense of security and stability is sought. They have the foundation for building a happy, joyful, fulfilling life.

Ready for some tips to re-connect and feel grounded?

Bare feet are best. Outside’s ideal, if possible. Close your eyes to minimize distractions. First, notice how you feel overall, without judgement. Be curious. Feel the ground, or floor, with your feet. Really focus on what you feel with your toes, arches, heels. Be curious. How do your feet feel? How do your legs feel? As you breathe deeply in through your nose, imagine drawing life-sustaining energy up from the earth through your feet and legs. Feel that energy filling every part of you. As you exhale out through your mouth, imagine the air moving down your body, out through your feet, into the earth below. Notice your feet becoming one with the earth, sending roots deeply into the earth. Repeat that several times, allowing those roots to grow stronger and deeper.

Allow your eyes to open slowly, and return your awareness to the room. To deepen your experience, take a nice leisurely, intentional walk in nature. Ask your feet and legs what they need. What do they have to tell you about what you need at this time? Just ask, and notice. Trust your instincts. Be open minded, and open hearted with yourself.

Now how do you feel?

Are you ready for the next steps to reconnect for more joy and fulfillment?

Are you ready to reconnect to, and align, your other centers to manifest a joyful fulfilling life? Stay grounded and tune in again next month when I share more.

Wondering why wanting more isn’t a bad thing?

When it comes from the heart, from the longings of your Soul, wanting more isn’t “materialistic” or selfish. Wanting more isn’t a bad thing in that case.

Why do I say that? It’s the natural order of the Universe to change, and expand. Expansion is more isn’t it? You are part of the natural world, the Universe, aren’t you? Didn’t you grow and expand physically from your start? Haven’t you grown personally? To do that, didn’t some part of you desire “more” or “different”?

Have you not tried new things? New places to live? New clothes and shoes? Haven’t your social circles changed over the years? Aren’t these all some variation of “wanting more?”

Haven’t you been hungry, or thirsty, resulting in you taking in more food and drink? Haven’t you inhaled more air with every breath you’ve taken? Even these basic needs for survival are dependent upon some want, or need, for “more”.

A Closer Look at Why Wanting More Isn’t a Bad Thing…..

When you commonly think of “wanting more” as a bad thing, what are you really thinking? Does it seem selfish? Undeserved? Materialistic?

What are you really thinking when you think of someone as “too materialistic”? Are you perhaps really thinking they don’t value life, or people, or other “higher values’?

Aren’t these all beliefs that you hold? How did you come to believe these things?

When we want some “thing”, or some “experience”, in reality we are looking for the feeling “it” will give us. Those feelings are often a sense of safety, security, confidence, pride, success, accomplishment, and/or happiness.

And, the truth is, we are capable of having those feelings without the “things” and “experiences” we often accumulate to achieve those feelings. Of course, most of us haven’t mastered the ability to survive without the basics of food, drink, air, and protective clothing and shelter, etc., but, otherwise, we can achieve the feelings without the “things”. Have you ever done that little experiment where you close your eyes and imagine biting into a lemon? You’ve convinced yourself you are having an experience which is all imaginary. Your mind is very powerful, isn’t it?

What Happened?

Some part of you has come to believe you need to have “things” and “experiences” to feel those feelings you crave. That mis-guided belief has you pursuing them, and attaching further beliefs to the idea of having things and experiences. And, that also causes you problems.

You have natural urges and longings related to your survival, as well as related to your Purpose. Your Soul conveys its Purpose-ful intentions to you through your inspirations, and your gut feelings that those inspirations are yours to follow. Those inspirations manifest as a desire to create what you don’t have, to do what you haven’t done. A type of “more”……

But, because of your conditioning and beliefs, you lost sight of those inspirations, and healthy desires for “more”. You forgot how, or learned not to feel good about yourself very early on. You lost your sense of peace and contentment, of feeling and being “enough”. All of which came from within you across all situations. And, you began to look outside yourself for “more”.

Wouldn’t it Be Nice…..?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have those good feelings with us whenever we want, wherever we want? You know, not attached to anyone, or anything. But, to have them naturally, effortlessly? To feel we are enough, we have enough, yet be curious about what else is possible? Across all situations. Wouldn’t that be a more peaceful, sustainable feeling?

The art of happiness and fulfillment balances the ability to “BE enough” with the desire to explore that comes from your Highest Self, from within your heart. Guiding you to not only survive, but to thrive and enjoy life living to your fullest potential. On-Purpose.

Be Free to BE You, and Have More Money and Abundance….

To do that freely, you have to free yourself from those blocks to having more money and abundance to that you are open to “more”. Money is the means we use to acquire much of what we want and need. Having it is essential to life, a part of life. How much you have is up to you. Now, do you have a better sense of why wanting more isn’t a bad thing?

Is it time for another part of yourself to emerge into the light of your purpose? You may not even be aware its within you. But, when it IS time, it will find a way to emerge, and be born into the light. And, its a beautiful thing, whether you think so at the time, or not.

At the time, I had no idea the significance of my experience, but I’m grateful for it. Though it was traumatic, it was miraculous. It was amazing. And, couldn’t have been any other way, or my Purpose wouldn’t be served. Mind if I share a little of it with you in the following article, adapted from its original version published in Luminous Wisdom Sophia, November, 2017?

Follow Your Heart Into the Light of Your Purpose

As I lay in that warm, dark, very cramped, uncomfortable place being repeatedly squashed, I didn’t know what was happening. I didn’t belong there, but I couldn’t leave. Intuitively, I knew I wasn’t facing the right direction. I tried for all I was worth to turn. No luck.

I pleaded, “Please, stop this!!! I feel awful. Mom, can you help me? Please, Mom, help! Why don’t you help me?” Nothing. It was like banging my head repeatedly into a brick wall. I was frustrated, angry, and afraid. This was my first experience of feeling powerless, and unable to move forward despite knowing exactly what I needed to do. The pattern was set. Or, was it?

Suddenly, the space around me expanded. What was happening? Finally!! Someone pulled me into the light as the temperature dropped, and unfamiliar sounds and voices filled my awareness. I cried as my rescuers rushed about tending to their perception of my needs. No one asked me how I felt, or what I needed. They assumed they knew best. But, they were missing SO much!

All Worth It

My birth was my longest 11-1/2 hours, and one of the richest experiences, of my yet-to-be-life. It’s been a key in my own healing process. From it I realized learning begins before birth, and that our birth experience shapes our life patterns and personalities. I also developed a deep appreciation of our coping and adapting mechanisms, having lived with the resulting physical stress and tension for decades. And, I honor the significance of all experiences in my journey for awakening me to the TRUTH of who I AM and aligning me with my Purpose. I cherish this as I celebrate another anniversary of my birth.

No matter how old it is, or how insignificant it may seem, when it’s time for something to surface and awaken you, it will. It’ll get your attention in the best way for you to notice it, bring it to light, and resolve it, just as my birth experience has done.

Just as a lifetime of stress, challenges, and experiences since that day have done for me, so, too, yours are calling to you. Always.

Time to Notice What’s Emerging Into the Light of Your Purpose

Notice what’s asking for your attention, guiding you to ask yourself important questions. How are you feeling? What are you thinking? What’s it showing you? How can you grow from it and resolve it at the root, so its purpose is served? How can you, and the world, be better because of it?

This awakening revealed my next steps for bringing to others such opportunities for health, healing, growth, and awakingn to their Purpose. If I didn’t take them, my heart would break, and I’d be doing a disservice to the Universe. I’d miss my chance to make my difference and feel fulfilled. I’d regret

If its’ stressing, challenging, and/or ailing you, it IS calling you. Tune in. Open your heart to it. Otherwise, you may be missing one of the riches experiences in your life. Could you live with that? What lies within you waiting to be born into the light?

Feeling unsure of how to answer the call of your stress and challenges? Could you use an objective professional to guide you into the light of your Purpose with greater clarity, joy, and Peace?

Did you know your answers are within you for all of your health challenges, stressors, and even knowing what’s next for you? Yes, your answers ARE within.

Whispering to You Through Your Heart, Your Soul is Telling You Your Answers Are Within.

Looking to feel better, experience improved health, find your next steps? Want to the satisfaction and fulfillment of knowing and living YOUR purpose? Your body is guiding you to follow the path that’s best for you. Your heart knows your Purpose. And, your Soul’s whispering through your heart all you need to know to be all you’re designed to be. You first need to know and trust that, then learn how to listen and follow along.

Centuries ago, the “church” decided that the more esoteric matters of the mind, heart, emotions, and spirit was its domain. The medical community decided the physical body was its domain. That was the beginning of separation of “church and state”. Perhaps that’s what lead to a tendency to look for our answers and solutions outside ourselves.

Sure, you must consult with professionals at times because they have necessary skills and knowledge you don’t. And, that knowledge will enhance your understanding and decision-making. But they don’t have ALL of the information. Only you have lived your life, in your shoes, with your experiences. You’re the only one who truly knows what’s going on inside your mind, your heart, your Highest self.

Ultimately, only you can make the best decisions for yourself, and manage your thoughts to keep aligned with your design, your Purpose, what IS best for you. And, when you stray from that, your system will respond in kind with symptoms of stress and dis-ease.

I’m honored to share with you the second in my 12 article series with the newly published international online magazine, Luminous Wisdom – Sophia “Follow Your Heart, Your Purpose: Your Answers Are Within”. Please share your comments below – would love to hear from you!

You’re programmed and designed to be a YOU-nique BEING, with a you-nique place only you can fill. You Purpose is to fill it by learning, growing, evolving into the best version of YOU that you can. When you fulfill your Purpose, you feel alive, connected, fulfilled, and love what you’re doing. Your life fits you, and you fit your life.

Isn’t that in itself amazing, incredible, remarkable? I think it is. Oh, and by the way, “amazing”, “incredible”, and “remarkable” are all synonyms for “extraordinary”.

I invite you to first consider what “extraordinary” means to you. It means different things to different people. Some, because of their “definition” don’t believe they’re meant to live an extraordinary life.

I’m not suggesting you’re necessarily meant to rise to the top in your profession, win a Nobel Prize, nor become famous and filthy rich. I’m suggesting simply that you are you-nique, and something of value is contributed to the WHOLE when you aspire to being the best version of “YOU” you can be. Then you’re showing up fully for the world, living your Purpose to the best of your ability, letting your Inner Light shine brightly.

Think about it.

An Intelligence created 100 Trillion cells of “YOU” before you were even born, from 2 completely individual single cells. Isn’t that incredible? And, it isn’t done. There is much more of “YOU” to potentially be created, maintained, and evolved.

Your nervous system is key in carrying out that Plan. It’s continually making adjustments based n your experiences, situation, circumstances, etc. It’s in charge of keeping you going, functioning, healing, evolving, living.

The ease with which your system can follow the Plan is affected by whether you align with, and support, it in your choices and responses, or you thwart it.

How do you know when you’re thwarting the Plan for your extraordinary life?

You feel stressed. Yep. Stress is an indicator that you’re out of alignment with your Purpose. Any stress, i.e. any sign of living less than an optimally healthy, high quality life is an indicator.

When stressed, your nervous system has to work overtime to make up for the alteration in the Plan. It’s showing you how to get back on track with symptoms of stress. If you ignore or tolerate the symptoms, or simply go for a quick-fix to eliminate them, you miss that “re-direct”. And, you stay off-track. Thus, you live a less-than-extraordinary life. It may well be ordinary, or average at least. But, it isn’t extraordinary. Click here to see a great TED Talk YouTube video on this topic: “How Ordinary People Become Extraordinary”.

Listening to your Inner Wisdom guiding you through the symptoms of stress you experience can help you better align with the Plan for “YOU” so that you live an extraordinary life. One in which you feel alive, connected, fulfilled, and passionate. A life that feels like the right fit.

Are you TRULY satisfied with your life?

Or are you settling….. for ordinary? Ordinary is ok if you are ok with life’s aches, pains, health issues, and the other symptoms of stress. It’s your life, your health, your choice. Only you can decide what is and isn’t acceptable, extraordinary.